Organic weed removal apparatus and system

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a mechanical device to assist in weed removal from crops in an organic manner by mechanically pulling weeds by use of a rotating member to grasp and pull weeds from the soil while leaving the desired crop in place. The rotating members may be wheels, metal rollers, and combinations thereof removably attached to a tractor wherein one rotating member is larger in diameter than a second rotating member diameter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/963,981, filed Dec. 9, 2015, currently pendingin which priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/090,755 filed on Dec. 11, 2014. The entire content of eachof the above-referenced applications is hereby expressly incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

In general, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method forremoving weeds from farming crops. More particularly, the inventionprovides a mechanical means to assist in weed removal from row crops inan organic manner by mechanically pulling weeds by use of two rotatingmembers in contact to grasp and pull weeds from the soil while leavingthe desired crop in place wherein one rotating member is an inflatedrubber tire and the second rotating member is a rubber type materialhaving a hard substrate such as a metal roller wrapped with a rubberlagging. Furthermore, the current invention provides for a posi-pullsystem.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Weed management has always been challenging in the production of cropsdue to the general nature of farming. Demand for non-chemical weedremoval in farming is ever increasing as the desire for more organicfood supplies becomes more popular. Traditional weed management withchemicals is, therefore, becoming more in disfavor as the public desireto reduce chemical use in all aspects of farming.

In specific to organic farming, farmers are relying on combinations ofcover crops, flame weeding, and other known cultural practices. Needlessto say, these prior art methods have numerous disadvantages and risks.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,411 issued on Jan. 15, 1980 to Daniel T. Bourquin,the same inventor of this current application, generally discloses anapparatus for pulling weeds in an organic fashion by a mechanical means.The prior art generally provides for two tires working in combinationand only two tires. Furthermore, this prior art does not allow forindependent placement and tensioning of the pairs of rotating pullers.The current invention is a new and non-obvious improvement over thesame.

As the demand increases for more organic food supplies, today's farmersare looking for new means to simultaneously reduce tillage passes andsuppress weeds. The prior art devices and methods have failed to bridgethe gap between industry needs and the currently available alternatives.Therefore, an extensive opportunity for advancements and innovationremains where the prior art fails or is deficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types ofweed control equipment and systems now present in the prior art, thepresent invention provides a new and improved system and method whereinthe same can be utilized in those situations where safety, cost, andease of implementation are desired. As such, the general purpose of thepresent invention, which will be described subsequently in greaterdetail, is to provide a new and improved weed removal apparatus andsystem for use with row crops, which has all the advantages of the priorart and none of the disadvantages.

To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a rotatingmember, wheel, and or reel that passes over the crop, engages theundesirable weed, and pulls the weed from the soil and wherein aplurality of hydraulically driven cooperating wheel members having outersurfaces thereof in contact to grasp and pull weed members from theadjacent soil. Further, it may be raised or lowered from as desired byan operator to selectively engage the weeds at a desired height. It iscontemplated that instead of using two tires that rotate in contact, toutilize two rotating members wherein one rotating member is an inflatedrubber tire and the second rotating member is a rubber type materialhaving a hard substrate such as a metal roller wrapped with a rubberlagging.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the invention in order that the detailed description thereofthat follows may be better understood and in order that the presentcontribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course,additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in this application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily beutilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, andsystems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention.It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as includingsuch equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially theengineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patentor legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursoryinspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of theapplication. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention ofthe application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended tobe limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system for assisting inthe removal of weeds in fields, which leaves the desired crop intact andunharmed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system, which is of adurable and reliable implementation.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system, which issusceptible to a relatively low cost of operation. Accordingly, is thensusceptible to low prices of use to the farming industry, thereby makingsuch economically available to the consuming industry.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system, which providesall of the advantages of the prior art, while simultaneously overcomingsome of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedagriculture weed removal apparatus and system that can be readilyadapted to existing equipment used in the field and can also selectivelybe attached to a front or rear portion of a farm tractor in an easymanner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system, which may beutilized with standard tractors found in the industry and or utilized asa single unit device.

Still yet, another object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system that reducestillage passes, suppresses weeds, and allows for variable heightadjustments.

It is even a further object of the present invention to provide a newand improved agriculture weed removal apparatus and system, which ismore environmentally friendly than existing means for weed eradication.

These, together with other objects of the invention, along with thevarious features of novelty, which characterize the invention, arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and objects other than those setforth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings, illustrations, pictures, and appendices.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a perspective view of the weed puller apparatus ofthis invention shown as rear mounted on a farm tractor, which ispartially illustrated.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a fragmentary side elevational view of the weedpuller apparatus and farm tractor shown in FIG. 1 illustrating verticalmovement of the weed puller apparatus in dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a schematic rear, elevational view of the weedpuller apparatus of this invention as applied to a weed pullingoperation.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a weedpulling assembly of the weed puller apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a sectional view taken through line 6-6 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a perspective view of a weed pulling attachmentassembly illustrating possible connection to one end of the weed pullerapparatus of this invention.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a side elevational view of the weed puller apparatusof this invention shown as front mounted on a farm tractor, which ispartially illustrated.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a side elevational view of the weed puller apparatusmounted on a rear portion of a farm tractor similar to FIG. 2 andincluding cultivator members mounted thereon to work the soil.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a fragmentary perspective view of a weed pullerapparatus of this invention having a weed pulling attachment assemblyconnected thereto.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a side elevational view of the weed puller apparatusand weed pulling attachment assembly shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a perspective view of a lock arm assembly of theweed puller apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the inventiongenerally depicting a new and non-obvious weed pulling assemblyutilizing a rubber tire and hard metal roller covered in a laggingmaterial.

FIG. 14 is the rear view of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 13 generallydepicting the weed pulling assembly from behind.

FIG. 15 is a general top view illustration of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention generally depicting a new and non-obvious weed pullingassembly utilizing a rubber tire and hard metal roller covered in alagging material and a posi-pull system.

FIG. 16 is a general partial front view of a posi-pull disc systemillustration of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 17 is a general top view illustration of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention generally depicting a rubber tire with a diameter andrubber tire with a smaller diameter configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,411 issued on Jan. 15, 1980 to Daniel T. Bourquin,the same inventor of this current application, generally discloses anapparatus for pulling weeds in an organic fashion by a mechanical means.The current invention is a new and non-obvious improvement over the sameas discussed below and the new and non-obvious improvements are morespecifically described under the heading “Other Embodiments”.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, referencecharacter 12 generally designates a new and improved mechanicalapparatus and system for weed removal or weed puller apparatus(hereinafter referred to collectively as invention 12). It is understoodthat the invention may be used in other applications other thanspecifically to weed removal utilities, thus, the title of the inventionshould not be considered to limit the scope of the invention. Invention12 may also be used in various farming such as but not limited tovegetable crops, row farming in general, weed removal in general and soforth. Furthermore, it is contemplated that invention 12 may beretrofitted to existing machines, made in conjunction with new machines,permanently attached, removably attached, and combinations thereof.

Invention 12 may be used in multiple applications where it is desired toremove unwanted growth from soil. Likewise, invention 12 may be utilizedspecifically with tractors and other equipment wherein hydraulic powermay be provided. It is understood that other farm equipment could beused not associated with the aforementioned. It is further contemplatedthat invention 12 may be utilized as a stand-alone unit or attached toexisting equipment on the front or rear.

As shown in FIG. 1, a weed puller apparatus of this invention, indicatedgenerally at 12, is shown as attached to a rear portion 14 of a farmtractor 16. More particularly, the farm tractor 16 is of a conventionalnature having a three-point hitch assembly 18 and a hydraulic controlvalve 20 operable selectively to convey pressure fluid through a firstline 22 and back to a fluid reservoir (not shown) through a second line24 or vice versa. The pressure fluid may be generated by an auxiliaryhydraulic pump and motor assembly or, as in this illustration, suppliedthrough the hydraulic control valve 20 from a hydraulic pump built intothe farm tractor 16.

The three-point hitch assembly 18 is typical including a pair ofparallel support arms 26 and an upper central piston and cylinderassembly 28. The support arms 26 are pivoted to raise and lower the weedpuller apparatus 12 by use of the hydraulic control valve 20 andmovement of the piston and cylinder assembly 28. The piston and cylinderassembly 28 is operable under fluid pressure from the hydraulic controlvalve 20 to selectively tilt the weed puller apparatus 12 as shown bysolid and dotted lines in FIG. 2 when the piston and cylinder assembly28 is activated as shown by arrow 29.

The basic weed puller apparatus 12 includes (1) a main support means 30connectable to the three-point hitch assembly 18; (2) a weed pullingmeans 32 secured to the main support means 30; and (3) a power means 34operably connected to the hydraulic control valve 20 and the weedpulling means 32. The main support means 30 includes a main supportmember 36 having mounted thereon a rear end connector assembly 38 inFIG. 1 and a front end connector assembly 40 mounted thereon in FIG. 8.

The main support member 36 includes an elongated rectangular tube member42 having connector plates 44 and lock arm assemblies 46 secured toopposite ends thereof. Each connector plate 44 extends vertically andhas four (4) holes therein for connection thereto of an auxiliaryweeding device to be explained (FIG. 7).

As best shown in FIG. 12, the lock arm assembly 46 includes (1) a lockplate 48 secured to a sidewall 50 of the tube member 42; (2) a connectortube 52 secured to a bottom wall 54 of the tube member 42; and (3) alatch arm 56 operably associated with the lock plate 48 and theconnector tube 52. The connector tube 52 is an open cylinder having acentral hole 58 there through.

The latch arm 56 is a rod member 60 having a handle member 62 welded atone end of the rod member 60 and extended perpendicular thereto.

In the assembled condition, the rod member 60 is inserted through theconnector tube 52 with an outer end 64 engageable with outer ones of theweed pulling means 32 for reasons to be explained. The handle member 62is engageable with the lock plate 48 to hold the rod member 60 againstaxial movement. The entire latch arm 56 is removed from the connectortube 52 while performing maintenance on the weed pulling means 32.

The rear end connector assembly 38 includes (1) a tilt control plate 66secured mid-way of a top surface 68 of the tube member 42; and (2) apair of spaced, parallel support plates 70 secured to the bottom wall 54of the tube member 42. As noted in FIG. 2, the tilt control plate 66 isconnectable by a pin member 72 to the piston and cylinder assembly 28for tilting movement of the entire weed puller apparatus 12. Also, thesupport plates 70 are connected by pins 74 to respective ones of thesupport arms 26 to raise and lower the entire weed puller apparatus 12.

As best noted in FIG. 8, the front end connector assembly 40 includes(1) a tilt control plate 66′ and (2) a pair of spaced, parallel supportplate members 76 secured to the sidewall 50 of the tube member 42. Whenmounting on a front portion of the farm tractor 16, a front loaderassembly 78 is used having spaced, parallel lift arms 80; a base plate82 extended between the lift arms 80; and a control piston and cylinderassembly 84 mounted on the base plate 82. The lift arms 80 are connectedby pins 86 to the respective support plate members 76 and the controlpiston and cylinder assembly 84 is connected by a pin 88 to the tiltcontrol plate 66.

It is obvious that the lift arms 80 are movable by the control valve 20to actuate a piston and cylinder assembly 89 on the tractor 16 as shownby an arrow 90 to raise and lower the weed puller apparatus 12 when inthe front mounted condition. Also, the control piston and cylinderassembly 84 is movable as shown by an arrow 92 by the control valve 20to tilt the weed puller apparatus 12.

The weed pulling means 32 includes cooperating pairs of weed pullingassemblies 94, namely, four (4) thereof, operable to simultaneously weedfour separate rows in a manner to be described. As each weed pullingassembly 94 is substantially identical, only one need be described indetail.

As shown collectively in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, each weed pulling assembly94 includes (1) a pair of adjacent wheel members 96; (2) a support shaftassembly 98 to rotatably support the wheel members 96 thereon; (3) asupport arm assembly 100 connected at a lower end to the support shaftassembly 98 and at an upper end to the top surface 68 of the mainsupport member 36; and (4) a guard and alignment assembly 101 mountedbetween the support shaft assembly 98 and the support arm assembly 100.

Each wheel member 96 resembles a conventional tire structure having asupport hub 102 with a tire member 104 mounted thereon. Each support hub102 has a central bearing sleeve 106 so as to be readily rotatable onthe support shaft assembly 98. The adjacent support hubs 102 arepreferably connected to each other for conjoint rotation.

Each support shaft assembly 98 includes a shaft member 108 extendedthrough the bearing sleeve 106 and connected to a bearing member 110 toallow rotation of the wheel members 96. An outer end 112 of the shaftmember 108 is threaded to receive a lock nut 114 thereon. The other endof the shaft member 108 is connected to a lower end of the support armassembly 100, which extends perpendicular therefrom.

The support arm assembly 100 includes a square tubular support member116 having a bearing support assembly 118 connected to an upper end 120thereof. The bearing support assembly 118 includes (1) a connector shaft122 with one end secured to the support member 116; (2) a bearing sleevemember 124 mounted about the connector shaft 122 and welded to the topsurface 68 of the main support member 36; and (3) bearing end plates 126secured to the connector shaft 122 at opposite ends of the bearingsleeve member 124 to prevent relative axial movement of the connectorshaft 122 permitting pivotal movement as shown by arrow 128 in FIG. 7.It is noted that each entire weed pulling assembly 94 is pivotal aboutthe bearing sleeve member 124 as shown by arrow 128 for reasons tobecome obvious (FIG. 7).

As shown in FIG. 5, each guard and alignment assembly 101 includes acylindrical guard member 130 secured to an outer periphery of the innerwheel member 96 at the hub 102 and a plurality, namely four, of spikeassemblies 132 secured to and equally spaced about an outer surface 134of the guard member 130. The guard member 130 has an outer edge 136positioned adjacent the support member 116 and acts as a shield or guardto prevent weed members 148 from becoming entangled about the supportshaft assembly 98.

Each spike assembly 132 includes a spike or finger member 138 connectedto a support clamp 140 which, in turn, is secured by nut and boltmembers 142 to the guard members 130. The spike member 138 is formedwith a central body 144 integral with an inclined outer end portion 146.

The support clamp 140 is constructed of a flexible material such asrubber so that the spike member 138 acts to pick up and straighten weedmembers 148 but will flex without breaking when hitting rocks and othersuch obstacles.

As shown in FIG. 4, the power means 34 includes a drive assembly 150,which can be mounted on one of the weed pulling assemblies 94. Moreparticularly, the drive assembly 150 is a hydraulic motor member 152selectively supplied with pressure fluid from the control valve 20 onthe farm tractor 16 or an auxiliary supply. The pressure fluid isconveyed to and from the motor member 152 by the first and second lines22, 24. The motor member 152 drives a power shaft 156, which in turn, isconnected to the shaft member 108 of the support shaft assembly 98. Itis obvious that rotation of the power shaft 156 drives the dual wheelmembers 96 in a direction shown by an arrow 158 in FIG. 1. Thecontacting outer surfaces of the tire or wheel members 96 act to poweradjacent ones thereof. This operates for adjacent pairs of the wheelmembers 96 to rotate the surfaces there between in an upward directionfor a weed pulling operation to be explained.

As shown in FIG. 7, an additional weed pulling attachment assembly 160may be added to each end of the weed puller apparatus 12 to increasesame from a 4 row to a 6 row weeder structure. The weed pullingattachment assembly 160 includes a tube member 162 having an end plate164 to be secured by nut and bolt members 166 to respective endconnector plate 44 of the main support means 30.

A pair of previously described weed pulling assemblies 94 are connectedto the tube member 162. Also, it is noted that the lock arm assembly 46is needed to provide a stop by the rod member 60 to keep sufficientfrictional contact between adjacent pairs of the wheel members 96. It isnoted that an 8 row weeder structure can be provided merely by joiningtogether two of the basic weed puller apparatuses 12.

An attachment for the weed puller apparatus 12 of this invention, asshown in FIGS. 10 and 11, is a crop level sensing control means 168 toautomatically raise and lower the weed puller apparatus 12 to assurethat only the weed members 148 and not a crop member 170 is pulled. Thecrop level sensing control means 168 includes (1) a wheel supportassembly 172, one each connected to opposite ends of the main supportmember 36; (2) a wheel actuator assembly 174 connected to each wheelsupport assembly 172; and (3) a crop level sensing assembly 176connected at one end of the main support member 36.

The wheel support assembly 172 includes a connector assembly 178supporting a wheel member 180. The connector assembly 178 includes (1) avertical support post 182 secured by a connector clamp 184 to the tubemember 42; and (2) a lateral support arm 185 having one end pivotallyconnected to a lower end of the vertical support post 182 and an outerend connected to the wheel member 180.

The wheel member 180 has a tire member 186 to contact a support surface188 and a central hub member 190. The outer end of the lateral supportarm 185 is connected to the hub member 190 in a manner as by a bearingmember to allow rotation of the wheel member 180.

The wheel actuator assembly 174 is a piston and cylinder assembly 192having a piston member 194 mounted in a cylinder member 196. The pistonmember 194 has an outer end connected by a pin 198 to a support lug 200on the lateral support arm 185. An upper end of the cylinder member 196is pivotally connected by a pin member 202 to the vertical support post182.

The cylinder member 196 is supplied with pressure fluid through lines204 and 206 to move the piston member 194 in a conventional manner asshown by an arrow 208. Obviously, such movement would raise and lowerthe wheel member 180 and interconnected weed puller apparatus 12. Thelines 204 and 206 are connected to the crop level sensing assembly 176to control operation of the wheel support assembly 172.

The crop level sensing assembly 176 includes (1) a control valve 210mounted on a support member 212 which is secured to the tube member 42;(2) a control fluid supply line 214 connected to the control valve 210;and (3) a sensing arm member 216 operably connected to the control valve210.

The control valve 210 is of a type having a plunger member 218 torestrict, increase, or block a fluid opening therein to direct fluidpressure selectively to lines 204 and 206 to raise and lower the wheelsupport assembly 172. Numerous such control valves 210 are known to theprior art.

The sensing arm member 216 resembles a rake structure having anelongated main body 220 with an upper end pivotally connected to thecontrol valve 210 and a lower end connected to a sensor member 222. Theupper end of the main body 220 is also connected to the plunger member218 to cause movement thereof on movement of the sensing arm member 216as shown in solid and dark lines in FIG. 11.

The sensor member 222 extends laterally of the main body 220 andprovides a substantial bottom surface 225 to contact the crop members170. This causes movement of the plunger member 218 to control fluidpressure flow to the piston and cylinder assembly 192 to automaticallyraise and lower the weed puller apparatus 12 and maintain a desiredheight thereof above the crop members 170.

It is noted in FIG. 9 that the weed puller apparatus 12 of thisinvention can be used in conjunction with soil cultivators 221, whichwould loosen the soil and permit easier extraction of the weed members148.

Use and Operation of the Invention

As shown in FIG. 1, the weed puller apparatus 12 is readily attached tothe rear portion 14 of the farm tractor 16 through the three-point hitchassembly 18. The parallel support arms 26 and the piston and cylinderassembly 28 are connected to the weed puller apparatus 12 in aconventional manner. The weed puller apparatus 12 is tiltable as shownin dotted lines in FIG. 2 on operation of the piston and cylinderassembly 28 as shown by the arrow 29. The support arms 26 are pivotal toraise the entire weed puller apparatus 12 for transport purposes. Also,the movement of the support arms 26 and the piston and cylinder assembly28 are coordinated to (1) place the wheel members 96 in a generallyvertical or slightly tilted upwardly and rearwardly; and (2) to placethe cooperating wheel members 96 at a proper height to miss contact withthe crop members 170 but pull the weed members 148 (FIG. 3).

The farm tractor 16 is manipulated to place the center of every otherpair of wheel members 96 above the weed members 148 to be pulled asshown in FIG. 3. It is obvious that the basic weed puller apparatus 12is then operable to simultaneously pull weeds from four (4) rows of weedmembers 148. The hydraulic control valve 20 is operated to power thehydraulic motor member 152 to drive its wheel members 96 as shown byarrow 158. Each adjacent pair of wheel members 96 are then driven in anopposite direction due to frictional contact there between. Thecombination of the dual wheel members 96 and their frictional contact isvery important as allows one hydraulic motor member 152 to drive theentire cooperating weed pulling assemblies 94. The contacting pairs ofwheel members 96 operate to grasp the weed members 148 and pull sameupwardly and outwardly of the supporting soil.

The lock arm assemblies 46 are operable to hold the outer ones of theweed pulling means 32 inwardly to assure pressure between the wheelmembers 96. The respective latch arms 56 are removed from the connectortubes 52 when performing maintenance on the weed pulling means 32. Also,it is noted that frictional contact between the wheel members 96 and,thus adjustment of the weed pulling operation, can be controlled byregulating air pressure in the wheel members 96.

Another important feature of the invention is the use of the guard andalignment assembly 101 associated with the respective inner wheelmembers 96. The guard members 130 covers the respective support shaftassembly 98 to keep the weed members 148 from becoming entangledthereon. Also, associated with each guard member 130 is the spikeassembly 132 having flexible spike members 138 connected thereto. Therotating spike members 138 act to first contact the weed members 148 topull same upwardly like a raking action for subsequent grasping andpulling out the weed members 148.

As shown in FIG. 7, an additional weed pulling attachment assembly 160can be secured to each opposite end of the weed puller apparatus 12 tochange the structure from a four (4) to a six (6) row weeder structure.The connector plates 44 are secured to the respective end plates 164 bythe nut and bolt members 166 in a conventional manner.

Another feature of this invention is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the weedpuller apparatus 12 can be connected to a front portion of the farmtractor 16 by the front end connector assembly 40. The lift arms 80 aremoved about an arc shown by arrow 90 to raise and lower the weed pullerapparatus 12. Also, the control piston and cylinder assembly 84 ismovable as shown by the arrow 92 to tilt the weed puller apparatus 12 asdesired. The weed puller apparatus 12 operates as previously describedfor the rear mounted operation. The front mounted operation is desirablefor pulling larger weeds such as shatter cane and corn in soybeans andgrain sorghum or when pulling velvet leaf and sunflowers.

As noted in FIG. 9, the weed puller apparatus 12 can be used withconventional, earth cultivator structures, indicated at 221, which actto loosen the soil before the weed pulling operation.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an auxiliary attachment is the crop levelsensing control means 168 that can be added to the weed puller apparatus12 to automatically raise and lower same on sensing height of the cropmembers 170. The crop level sensing means 168 includes the wheel supportassembly 172 connected to opposite ends of the main support member 36and crop level sensing assembly 176 mounted at one end of the mainsupport member 36. The wheel actuator assembly 174 is connected to eachwheel support assembly 172 to raise and lower same.

More specifically, the crop level sensing assembly 176 has the sensingarm member 216, which contacts the crop members 170 and controls fluidpressure movement from a supply line 214 through the control valve 210to the piston and cylinder assembly 192. Movement of the sensing armmember 216 operates to present pressure fluid through lines 204 or 206to retract or extend the piston member 194 as noted by the arrow 208.Obviously, this operates to raise and lower the weed puller apparatus 12having the wheel member 180 contacting the support surface 188.

The weed puller apparatus of this invention presents a compact, durablestructure to pull weed members in a unique, efficient manner. The weedpuller apparatus is easy to use, simple to connect for front or rearwarduse on a farm tractor, and substantially maintenance free. The powermeans uses a power drive on only one weed pulling means to drive eight(8) sets of wheel members. On large weed puller apparatuses of 6-8 or 10row weed puller structures, a second drive motor or pump may be used asdeemed necessary.

Other Embodiments

As stated above, U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,411 issued on Jan. 15, 1980 toDaniel T. Bourquin, the same inventor of this current applicationgenerally discloses an apparatus for pulling weeds in an organic fashionby a mechanical means. The current invention is a new and non-obviousimprovement over the same. The previous invention essentially utilizedtwo rubber tires that rotated in opposite directions that engaged theweed and pulled the weed up. Depending on variables like the tirepressure, placement of one or both of the tires, tread wear, and dirtaccumulation on the tread, it was observed that the two tire combinationsometimes let the weed slip through the tires and not be engagedsufficiently to pull the weed up and from the ground for the desiredresult. Also, depending on variable like the tire pressure and placementof one or both of the tires, the weed top that engaged the tires was cutat the engagement point resulting in leaving the bulk of the weed stillin place in the ground. The undesirable air pressure of either one ofthe tires, wearing of tread on either one of the tires, the lack ofsufficient contact between the tires and or too much pressure betweenthe tires would create an undesirable result of not pulling the weedfrom the ground.

The current invention essentially contemplates to use a softer materialsuch as an inflated rubber tire making contact with a hard substratesuch as a metal roller wrapped with a rubber lagging, which improves theperformance of the weed pulling wheel wherein the prior art devicegenerally utilized two inflated rubber wheels working together. Thisprovides the ability to eliminate half of the undesirable variablesassociated with two inflatable tires. It has been found that the tirecombination with a roller covered in lagging allows the weed to be moreefficiently removed from the soil. Very generally, the softer tire isallowed to push against a harder metal roller for a better engagement ofthe weed to be pulled. The lagging material on the metal rollergenerally provides a reduced slip surface for the metal roller.

It has also been discovered that two relatively hard rotating members,essentially meaning two rollers by themselves working in combination arealso undesirable because of the inflexibility of the arrangement. Thetwo hard rotating surfaces require a delicate balance that is difficultto achieve because if they are spaced too far apart, the weed slipsthrough. If they are placed too close together, the friction is toogreat, which may break the weed before being pulled or even cause therotating members to bind up.

What is needed is a softer rotating member, such as a tire, makingcontact with a harder rotating member, such as a roller covered inlagging, to provide the optimal combination for allowing the weed to bepushed upward without cutting the weed or letting it slip without itbeing pulled out of the soil. Furthermore, the current inventionprovides a new and non-obvious tensioning and mounting system for theopposable rotating members, which will also be described in greaterdetail below. This allows for a rotating pair to be utilizedindependently and in multiple combination whereas the prior art devicerequired at least 4 rotating pairs.

It is further contemplated that a tensioning system may allow anindividual unit to operate individually and independent of other weedpulling units thus allowing use of the same units on a variety of rowwidths. Furthermore, the invention may benefit from use of smaller weedpulling units that would allow the invention to operate between rowsinstead of or in combination with the units designed to pull weeds abovethe row. The smaller units may be lowered and inserted between the rowsthereby allowing pulling weeds from the entire field and or crop. Thesesmaller units may be smaller wheels and rollers that fit between largerunits and may function for fields such as cornfields and or other rowcrops.

Now generally referring to the drawings and more in particular FIG. 13,the figure generally depicts a first roller 97 backed by a first rubbertire and or wheel member 96 on a non-powered shaft 157 and second wheelmember 96 backed by second roller 97 on powered shaft 156 to form weedpulling assembly 94. FIG. 14 is generally the back view of the sameembodiment depicted in FIG. 13 wherein the back of power shaft or source156 for powering rotation is shown and back of non-powered shaft 157 isalso shown.

It is also contemplated that weed pulling assemblies 94 generallycomprises the cooperation of wheel member 96, such as but not limited toan inflatable rubber tire, with a harder member, such as but not limitedto metal roller 97 wherein the wheel member 96 rotates in an oppositerotation from roller 97 such that weed member 148 enters between wheelmember 96 and roller 97 and is pulled up such that weed member 148 (asdepicted in FIG. 3) is removed from the ground as it is pulled throughthe engaged rotating wheel member 96 and roller 97. In a preferredconstruction, roller 97 is made from a hard material such as metal andhas a cover 99. In a preferred construction, the cover 99 is laggingmade of soft rubber. The rubber may be the same as found on conveyorbelts, attached to the roller and turns, powering the conveyor belt. Itis still further contemplated to widen the cover 99 past the roller 97.In a preferred construction, roller 97 cover 99 extends ¼ inch beyondthe metal roller 97. It is understood that the overhang may be more orless. The material extending forward beyond the metal roller 97 may beserrated or notched. The purpose of this serrated material is to improvethe ability of the drum roller to gather in weeds.

Another new and non-obvious improvement over the prior art as depictedin FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 is the connection system to the support memberbeam referred to as tube member 42. Wherein the prior art generallyutilized lock arm assemblies 46 secured to opposite ends of tube member42 as generally depicted in FIG. 12, the current invention does awaywith the lock arm assemblies 46 as well as the fixed positioningrequired along tube member 42 support arm assembly 100. These prior artdevices did not allow for variation of the number of pulling assemblies,the distance between the support arm assembly 100, nor allow for theindividual support arms to be biased as desired, which will be explainedin more detail below.

Each weed pulling assembly 94 may now generally compromise first roller97 backed by first wheel member 96 on non-powered shaft 157 supported byfirst support arm assembly 100 and second wheel member 96 backed bysecond roller 97 on powered shaft 156 on a second support arm assembly103. First support arm assembly 100 and second support arm assembly 103are selectively attached as desired and spaced along tube member 42 bybracket system 105.

Bracket system 105 generally allows for the selective placement andability to change the placement as desired along tube member 42 that didnot exist in the prior art devices. This allows for numerous spacingoptions, numerous configurations and numbers of weed pulling assemblies94 and so forth. Although one weed pulling assembly 94 is depicted inFIG. 13 and FIG. 14, it is understood that more may be utilized per tubemember 42.

Bracket system 105 may comprise plate 300 that may be removably attachedto tube member 42. A preferred embodiment may use U bolts 302 and 304 asdepicted in FIG. 13 and attaches. First support arm assembly 100 andsecond support arm assembly 103 are generally pivotally attached toplate 300 allowing for the relative positioning and engagement of therotating wheel members 96 and rollers 97. A first adjustment set screw306 and a second adjustment set screw 308 allow for the selectivepositioning of support arm assembly 103 and support arm assembly 100,respectively.

First adjustment set screw 306 generally connects plate 300 to bar 310wherein bar 310 is generally attached to support arm assembly 103.Second adjustment set screw 308 generally connects plate 300 to bar 312wherein bar 312 is generally attached to support arm assembly 100. Bylengthening first adjustment set screw 306 such that the distancebetween plate 300 and first adjustment set screw 306 connection point tobar 310 increases, bar 310 pivots thereby moving support arm assembly103 toward support arm assembly 100. By shortening first adjustment setscrew 306, the distance between plate 300 and first adjustment set screw306 connection point to bar 310 is decreased and pivots thereby movingsupport arm assembly 103 away from support arm assembly 100.

It is also understood that by lengthening second adjustment set screw308 such that the distance between plate 300 and second adjustment setscrew 308 connection point to bar 312 increases, bar 312 pivots therebymoving support arm assembly 100 toward support arm assembly 103. Byshortening first adjustment set screw 306, the distance between plate300 and first adjustment set screw 306 connection point to bar 312 isdecreased and pivots thereby moving support arm assembly 100 away fromsupport arm assembly 103.

It is also contemplated that support arm assembly 100 and support armassembly 103 may be spring loaded. This may provide for an adjustableand or constant loaded tension between support arm assembly 100 andsupport arm assembly 103 and respectively between roller 97 and wheelmember 96.

Still furthermore, the current invention may utilize a gathering snoutfor generally pushing weeds together before engaging the wheel androller. This may allow for weeds that are, by example, 10 inches apartto be pushed together before the engagement of the wheel and roller. Itis also contemplated to synchronize the speed of the tractor with therotation of the weed pulling assembly wherein the faster the tractormoves forward, the faster the spinning of the weed pulling apparatus.Conversely, the slower the tractor, the slower the spinning may be andso forth.

Another Preferred Embodiment

Once again referring to the illustration and more in particular FIGS. 15and 16, invention 12 still further contemplates that roller 97 may be ofa smaller circumference and or diameter than wheel member 96. This mayprovide a non-linear path for the weeds to be pulled through which mayprovide greater power for pulling without cutting the weed. The diameterdifference may be several inches, 4 inches, greater than 4 inches andless than 4 inches.

Invention 12 further contemplates providing a first disc 410 to roller97 and a second disc 420 to wheel member 96. The addition of first disc410 and second disc 420 may be utilized for a posi-pull system 430 andor kit. The addition of first disc 410 and second disc 420 may providefor the removal of still un-pulled weeds that may have not been removedby the wheel member 96 and roller 97 action. It is known that some weedsbecome more resistant to pesticides such as but not limited to ROUNDUPresistant pigweed in soils hit by a summer's drought.

The addition of posi-pull system 430 provides a more aggressive pull forweeds in more severe conditions where it is found that pulling the weedsis more difficult. Invention 12 contemplates that the addition ofposi-pull system 430 helps grip the weed as it is being pulled whenadded to wheel member 96 and roller 97 and may clamp on to the weed topop it out of the ground.

First disc 410 and second disc 420 may include notches 440 and blades450 that may further the pulling and gripping action. First disc 410 andsecond disc 420 may be made of steel, portions of steel, compositematerials, combinations thereof and so forth.

Notches 440 may provide a gripping action and are not designed forcutting in a preferred embodiment. In a preferred construction, firstdisc 410 may be a generally flat coulter and second disc 420 may be agenerally curved rear blade. Posi-pull system 430 may approximatelydouble the effective gathering width in each row area and may provide amore uniform feed to the pulling wheels. It is contemplated thatposi-pull system 430 provides that the weed is grabbed between thenotches 440 on a flat coulter first disc 410 and curved rear bladesecond disc 420. This may not only grab the weed, but it distorts thestem of the weed increasing the holding power of the notches 440.

It is contemplated that if a stem is held taught between the ground andthe weed pulling roller 97 and wheel member 96, and a sideways pressureis applied, it may double the effective pulling power. This may beaccomplished by mounting a posi-pull system 430 that may utilize acurved disc with a bigger diameter to the back of the wheel member 96and or roller 97. It is contemplated that the curved disc facesbackwards so as not to cut the stem but still provides a sidewayspressure.

It is contemplated notches 440 tend to have a longer pulling stroke,which does a better job of thoroughly dislodging the roots from theground. The notches 440 may also tend to deliver the weed to the rowmiddle.

Invention 12 has been operated in a field of weeds that had been grazed,leaving long slender stocks. When moving through the field, it waspossible to see the weed being gathered and moved methodically throughthe wheels, then a sudden blip, and the weed is popped out of theground. It was obvious the instant when the notched coulter caught theweed. Furthermore, with the more positive feed of the weeds through thenotched blade, the tires may remain dryer and consequently do a betterjob of pulling. It has also been observed that the pulling blades reducethe amount of stalling of the wheels. It is also contemplated thatinvention 12 may be self-propelled and not generally attached to atractor.

Invention 12, therefore, contemplates a weed puller apparatus adapted tobe connected to a vehicle such as a farm tractor to be pulled through acrop having weed members therein to be removed, comprising a mainsupport member beam connected to the farm tractor; a weed pullingassembly adjustably connected to said main support member beam having afirst support arm wherein said first support arm includes a supportshaft assembly rotatably connected at one end to a first rubber tirehaving a diameter, a first metal roller having a diameter, and a firstdisc having a diameter and a serrated circumference and a second endpivotally connected to said main support member beam and a secondsupport arm wherein said second support arm includes a support shaftassembly rotatably connected at one end to a second metal roller havinga diameter, a second rubber tire having a diameter, a second disc havinga diameter and a serrated circumference and a second end pivotallyconnected to said main support member beam; wherein said first rubbertire and said second metal roller are in frictional contact, said secondrubber tire and said first metal roller are in frictional contact, andsaid first disc and said second disc are in frictional contact; whereinsaid first rubber tire said diameter and said second rubber tire saiddiameter are respectively four inches larger than said first metalroller said diameter and said second metal roller said diameter; whereinsaid first disc said diameter and said second disc said diameter arerespectively larger than said first rubber tire said diameter; a powersource connected to one of said support shaft assembly to drive one ofsaid first rubber tire, said second metal roller, and said first disc orsaid first metal roller, said second metal roller, and said second discwhich, in turn, drives the remaining one of said first rubber tire, saidsecond metal roller, and said first disc or said first metal roller saidsecond metal roller, and said second disc in frictional contact tooperably grasp said weed members to pull upwardly out of the supportingsoil. It is also contemplated that said first metal roller and saidsecond metal roller are covered with a rubber lagging.

Still Another Preferred Embodiment

Once again referring to the illustration and more in particular to FIG.17, invention 12 still further contemplates that roller 97 may be of asmaller circumference and or diameter than wheel member 96. This mayprovide a non-linear path for the weeds to be pulled through, which mayprovide greater power for pulling without cutting the weed. The diameterdifference may be several inches, 4 inches, greater than 4 inches andless than 4 inches. Roller 97 may be a tire and or wheel configurationsuch as wheel member 96 but with the smaller diameter.

It is therefore contemplated that invention 12 may be a weed pullerapparatus adapted to be connected to a farm tractor to be pulled througha crop having weed members therein to be removed, comprising a mainsupport member beam connected to the farm tractor; a weed pullingassembly adjustably connected to said main support member beam having afirst support arm wherein said first support arm includes a firstsupport shaft assembly rotatably connected at one end to a first rubbertire having a first diameter, a first roller having a second diameter,and a second end pivotally connected to said main support member beamand a second support arm wherein said second support arm includes asecond support shaft assembly rotatably connected at one end to a secondroller having a third diameter and a second rubber tire having a fourthdiameter, and a second end pivotally connected to said main supportmember beam; wherein said first rubber tire and said second roller arein frictional contact and said second rubber tire and said first rollerare in frictional contact; wherein said first rubber tire said firstdiameter and said second rubber tire said third diameter arerespectively larger than said first roller said second diameter and saidsecond roller said fourth diameter; and a power source connected to oneof said first support shaft assembly or said second support shaftassembly to respectively drive one of said first rubber tire and saidsecond roller, or said first roller and said second roller, and, inturn, drives the remaining one of said first rubber tire and said secondroller, or said first roller and said second roller in frictionalcontact to operably grasp said weed members to pull upwardly out of thesupporting soil. It is contemplated that first roller and said secondroller are made from tires.

It is further contemplated that invention 12 may include a device,system, and method to scarify weed seeds in the field that are thrown byinvention 12. It is understood that scarify generally means to damagethe seed coat so the moisture can penetrate into the seed and germinateit. This would essentially disable the seed. Invention 12 may scarifythe seed while still standing and just prior to pulling.

Invention 12 may include two misaligned rollers with roughed sand paperlike faces to scuff the seed surface as it runs through. It is alsocontemplated to use heat such as but not limited to a flame on theseeds. The heat source could be mounted near where the weed is beingpulled or after being pulled. It is understood that invention 12 mayinclude combination of heat and scuffing the surface. It is alsounderstood that this embodiment may be a separate device and or devicesused in combination.

Changes may be made in the combinations, operations, and arrangements ofthe various parts and elements described herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, names, titles,headings and general division of the aforementioned are provided forconvenience and should, therefore, not be considered limiting.

I claim:
 1. A weed puller apparatus adapted to be connected to a farmtractor to be pulled through a crop having weed members therein to beremoved, comprising: a main support member beam connected to the farmtractor; a weed pulling assembly adjustably connected to said mainsupport member beam having a first support arm wherein said firstsupport arm includes a first support shaft assembly rotatably connectedat one end to a first rubber tire having a first diameter, a firstroller having a second diameter, and a second end pivotally connected tosaid main support member beam and a second support arm wherein saidsecond support arm includes a second support shaft assembly rotatablyconnected at one end to a second roller having a third diameter and asecond rubber tire having a fourth diameter, and a second end pivotallyconnected to said main support member beam; wherein said first rubbertire and said second roller are in frictional contact and said secondrubber tire and said first roller are in frictional contact; whereinsaid first rubber tire said first diameter and said second rubber tiresaid third diameter are respectively larger than said first roller saidsecond diameter and said second roller said fourth diameter; and a powersource connected to one of said first support shaft assembly or saidsecond support shaft assembly to respectively drive one of said firstrubber tire and said second roller, or said first roller and said secondroller, and, in turn, drives the remaining one of said first rubber tireand said second roller, or said first roller and said second roller infrictional contact to operably grasp said weed members to pull upwardlyout of the supporting soil.
 2. The weed puller apparatus of claim 1wherein said first roller and said second roller are made from tires.